Colts select Tackle Matt Goncalves with 79th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft

The Colts add more help on offense in the third round after trading up.

The Indianapolis Colts, with the 79th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft have selected Tackle Matt Goncalves from Pittsburgh . True to his word, Chris Ballard is focusing on protecting Anthony Richardson by taking Goncalves who is a 6’6” 327 pound offensive lineman.

Goncalves started 24 games at Pittsburgh at both right and left tackle. He missed most of 2023 due to a toe injury. Some believe that he might slide inside to guard in the NFL but time will tell. Goncalves was a team captain and was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Lance Zierlein had the following to say about the newest member of the Indianapolis Colts:

Beefy lineman with experience at both tackle spots who should be able to transition inside if needed. He’s not a natural knee-bender and lacks leverage as a projected guard but has the mass and power to execute blocks inside. He’s a decent athlete for his size but is limited as a move blocker. He’s sound in pass protection, with the only real issue being his inability to change direction quickly against counters and twists. Goncalves might get a shot to prove himself at tackle early in his career but limited foot quickness will shrink his margin for error. The physical traits and two-position potential could make him a middle-round pick with eventual starter potential.

As a tackle Goncalves RAS score is much lower than what the Colts have targeted in the past coming in at 7.69. Though if you change his position to guard it jumps to 8.54, which is much closer to the kind of elite RAS scores we’ve become accustomed to seeing from Colts draftees.

Some highlights from the internet:

This one is a little tougher to follow but an OL cutup all the same:

Chris Ballard has picked yet another unlikely draft target. This time he selected a tackle prospect that likely would have been drafted higher if not for the time he missed during his final season of college football. Given his size, athleticism and position versatility, it stands to reason this is a low risk pick for Ballard and his staff who add depth and competition to an already good offensive line.

Time will tell how things will play out in 2024 but no one will be able to claim that Chris Ballard isn’t serious about how his teams play on both the offensive and defensive lines. We might just see Goncalves opening holes for Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson, soon.